D53.2 vs E54
D53.2 (Scorbutic anemia) compared with E54 (Ascorbic acid deficiency), from the official CMS tabular data. Do not report these codes together: the official tabular list marks them Excludes1.
Can these codes be reported together?
No — do not report together. D53.2 carries an Excludes1 note covering E54: “scurvy (E54)”
Sole exception: when the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
No — do not report together. E54 carries an Excludes1 note covering D53.2: “scorbutic anemia (D53.2)”
Sole exception: when the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
Yes, when both are documented. E54 carries an Excludes2 note covering D53.2: “nutritional anemias (D50-D53)”
Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.
Side by side
| D53.2Scorbutic anemia | E54Ascorbic acid deficiency | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Billable | Billable |
| Classification | D50-D89 — Diseases of the Blood and Blood-forming Organs and Certain Disorders Involving the Immune Mechanism (D50-D89) | E00-E89 — Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases (E00-E89) |
| Definition | Scorbutic anemia is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (D53.2). | Ascorbic acid deficiency is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (E54). |
| Includes | megaloblastic anemia unresponsive to vitamin B12 or folate therapy | Deficiency of vitamin C Scurvy |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources